Pope Leo XIV has called for a united global response to combat addiction, emphasizing the urgent need for prevention and the moral formation of young people facing isolation and despair.
In a video message to Italy’s Seventh National Conference on Addictions, the Holy Father urged, “We must commit ourselves, in a concerted way, to a work of prevention.” According to Vatican News, his remarks were directed toward leaders, educators, and communities gathered in Rome to address the growing crisis of substance abuse and behavioral dependencies.
A World “Without Hope”
Pope Leo warned that addictions—whether to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or the digital world—reveal a deeper spiritual wound in society. He said these destructive habits often stem from “a mental or inner distress” and reflect “a social decline in values and positive points of reference.” According to the Pope, the widespread dependence on technology and harmful online content demonstrates that “we live in a world without hope, where vigorous human and spiritual proposals are lacking.”
He cautioned that many young people today “think that all behaviors are equivalent,” which blurs moral clarity and weakens the influence of families, schools, and parishes—institutions he described as “precious” for helping youth form a conscience and live responsibly.
A Call to Nurture the “Deep Thirst for Life”
Pope Leo highlighted the need for parents, teachers, and Church leaders to recognize the “deep thirst for life” within young people who struggle with fear and insecurity about the future. “The institutions of the State, volunteer associations, the Church, and society as a whole,” he said, “are called to perceive in these young people a plea for help… to offer an attentive and supportive presence.”
The Pope stressed that adolescents need opportunities to build their self-esteem and form meaningful connections. This, he said, is essential to prevent them from “withdrawing into themselves,” a tendency he described as both a symptom and a cause of addiction.
Building a Culture of Solidarity
Prevention, Pope Leo explained, must go beyond treatment and punishment. It requires strengthening family life, education, community, and faith. According to Vatican News, he proposed a path that includes “employment opportunities, education, sports, healthy living, and the spiritual dimension of existence.”
He concluded his message by encouraging the development of a “culture of solidarity and subsidiarity,” one that stands “in opposition to selfishness and to utilitarian and economic logics.” True healing, he said, comes through compassion, encounter, and service to the most fragile members of society.
Pope Leo’s appeal adds a deeply spiritual dimension to the global fight against addiction—reminding Catholics that prevention is not merely a medical or social challenge, but a moral mission rooted in love, human dignity, and hope.
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